68:5 He is a father to the fatherless
and an advocate for widows. 1
God rules from his holy palace. 2
146:9 The Lord protects those residing outside their native land;
he lifts up the fatherless and the widow, 3
but he opposes the wicked. 4
14:3 Assyria cannot save us;
we will not ride warhorses.
We will never again say, ‘Our gods’
to what our own hands have made.
For only you will show compassion to Orphan Israel!” 6
1 sn God is depicted here as a just ruler. In the ancient Near Eastern world a king was responsible for promoting justice, including caring for the weak and vulnerable, epitomized by the fatherless and widows.
2 tn Heb “God [is] in his holy dwelling place.” He occupies his throne and carries out his royal responsibilities.
3 sn God is depicted here as a just ruler. In the ancient Near Eastern world a king was responsible for promoting justice, including caring for the weak and vulnerable, epitomized by resident aliens, the fatherless, and widows.
4 tn Heb “he makes the way of the wicked twisted.” The “way of the wicked” probably refers to their course of life (see Prov 4:19; Jer 12:1). God makes their path tortuous in the sense that he makes them pay the harmful consequences of their actions.
5 tn Or “who executes justice for” (so NAB, NRSV); NLT “gives justice to.”
6 tn Heb “For the orphan is shown compassion by you.” The present translation takes “orphan” as a figurative reference to Israel, which is specified in the translation for clarity.